DJB Tabletop Gaming

ne of my biggest geeky passions over the past decade or so has been in the realm of Tabletop Roleplaying. I've played all sorts of games in that time and have even been (and currently am) a local coordinator of national and international campaigns. I now aim to bring that passion to the DJB and develop a tabletop gaming aspect of the DJB.

Now, I'm sure people are wondering how that's going to work since the image most folks get of tabletop roleplaying is a bunch of folks in a darkened basement rolling dice and drinking Mountain Dew. Well the answer is simple, technology. Through the wonders of the internet, tabletop games can be played with each player in their own darkened basement (or other room of their choosing) linking up to what is known as a Virtual Tabletop (or VTT) and communicating through voice chat. All the details will be below, but my goal is to do this in a way that requires the least amount of downloading and such.

To gauge interest and work out the kinks before taking this large scale, the powers that be would like to me to run a test session or two. To that end, if you're interested, please post below and indicate what days/times are generally good for you (please note time zone!). My goal is to make this work for all interested parties, Euro and Aussie folk included. I'm targeting a start date sometime in the last week in December or, more likely, early January. Of course feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions or comments or if you want to take advantage of one of the "pre game" activities mentioned below.

Happy gaming.

Kz'set (aka Arden Karn, aka "The Bug")

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What rules set will this game use?

After much consideration, I will use the Star Wars SAGA edition rules for the purposes of this test run. However, if folks have other suggestions and/or have been exposed to the newer Edge of Empire rules, I'll give them a look.

What about characters?

This will be using 3rd level SAGA characters of any class or species that has been officially published. Stats will be an 25 point buy using the rules in the Saga core book. Equipment is at player discretion, just be reasonable about it. Hit points past level 1 will = half the hit die +1 + Con modifier.

So this isn't using our existing DJB characters?

This was another thing I put a lot of thought into. What it came down to is that it's rather difficult to make a game that's accessible to all players of all ranks. Say you have a group of a GM, a DA, an EQ4, an EQ1, and a couple journeymen. Anything I would put in the game that would challenge the GM/Elder would murder the Journeymen in a heartbeat. In the end it's more fun if everyone is at or near the same level. Also prevents the "ha ha your DJB character is dead because the GM got lucky" moment and other fictional challenges.

All that being said, if this test works and a larger campaign develops, I definately plan to involve DJB characters...so feel free to stat them!

Will this tie to the DJB fictionally?

I'm still working this part out, but yes, that is my goal. It is my intent though that characters for this game not be attached to any particular unit of the Brotherhood. More on that as it develops.

What software might I need for this?

The VTT client we will be using is Roll20. It's a browser based program so there will be no download required. If folks want to get familiar with Roll20 before the scheduled game, let me know and I'll be happy to walk you through how the client works. It's fairly intuitive, but like all software it has it's quirks.

For the voice component, G+ hangouts will be the preferred method since Roll20 actually works within G+. However, if a group exceeds the 10 person max for G+, we'll use the DJB's Teamspeak server.

What if I'm interested but I'm unfamiliar with SAGA and/or don't have the books?

I'm also happy to give basic rules tutorials and assistance with creating a character. Just let me know and I'll set something up with you. As for the second part of that question, well, the internet is your friend.

Will there be shinies for this?

Sarin has promised Clusters of Ice for participants and there will be an official "competition" created for this shortly. This will not be a competitive event though, TT RP works best when people work together.

How many folks can play?
Ideally I'd like to keep the table to 6-7 folks. Games tend to get chaotic with more than that. However, if there is sufficient interest, I'll run more than one session. The more the merrier

Will we be able to fight Howie?

Maybe?

Totally would like in on this, I'm already incredibly familiar with being a user on Roll20 (over 100 hours ), and I've even messed about in Saga a bit. Totalllllly want to do this!


-Kordath Bleu

Depending on times I'd be interested.

Would there be other groups for other rulesets, out of curiosity? I've a couple of tabletops I'd like to play but don't have a local group for.

Depending on the learning curve and times, I'd be down for trying this out.

``Esca

Vaar, this is primarily the offical 'trial run' to gague interest in Tabletop Gaming in general. I had an alternate idea that involved FATE that may be explored later, using our current Character Sheets as a 'base.' Arden is the lead man on this.

I'm interested.

*nodnod* Sounds good. I'm mostly interested in some other systems, like FFG's Deathwatch, but Saga is also something I have been dying to try.

I figured this might be a good stepping stone for other DB-supported tabletops - let me know!

Vaar: I also happen to be fairly well versed in Pathfinder. Not like I'm a local rep for Paizo or anything...


And for those who are interested (both existing posters and future ones) could you please indicate a general availability schedule (days/times) with an eye towards the last week in December or early January so I can nail down a date and time

I'd be up for it, if you still need people.

Well in the last week of December, my availability is wide open, as I don't go back to work till that Thursday.

I'm in Central Standard Time (utc -5? -6? can never recall) and am generally available after 2 pm.

I'm sorry to make things difficult, but I'm free anytime before 12:30 p.m. Central time. (Sorry Kordath) I work for six days, then I'm off for three, making the schedule rather difficult. Though if I have the day off, I'll be free at any time. Here's my list of days off where I'll actually be free at any time:
December 30-January 1
January 8-10
Yeah... That's about it. Sounds super fun, though.
-Saronyx

I'm interested in this as well, but my availability depends on the times and days. At this time, I can't give that info.

I'm very interested in this too, and available whenever, just give me like a day's notice or something.

pretty much a noob to this tho, so go easy on me!

I'm definitely interested in participating!

Insert vaguely amusing variant of "I, too, am interested in this activity" here.

Perhaps interested, but am limited to no later that midnight or so GMT.

I'd just like to say I am interested. I've never done any sort of tabletop gaming before, though, and my schedule is also pretty limited (although fairly predictable). Looks like you've already got the 6-7 people you were going for regardless. Times for me are like, 7pm-1am EST, any night.

Yeah, me too. I love this sort of stuff. My availability will make it difficult to participate during the trial phase, but I hope this works out. For reference, I am Australian so apart from Friday and Saturday nights US time, I am only available in the wee hours of the morning.

To all the people that are saying "I'm new at this" don't worry, I'm not the sort that goes out for blood the first time out. That and I'll happily try and find a time to give you a crash course in how this all works. I also won't call anyone "newb" or anything like that. In a sense, we're all going to be a bit new to this.

For our first full run, why don't we go with Friday, January 3, 2014 at 8PM EDT I'll try and figure out another time for the interested folks in the "old world" in the near future. I'll give you all more details on the fictional setup soon. (Sarin, if you're reading this, we need to talk sir )

I would be interested in joining too. But it looks like we do have a huge crew as is. What are the chances we have 2 gamemasters and we can split into 2 groups that night?

Not sure about two GMs, but I can definitely run the same "adventure" more than once.

I've been meaning to get more details up, but here's a quick hit version so you can start planning characters. The group is going to be a collection of mercenaries, experts, and folks of all sorts that are being assembled to take on missions at the behest of, well, the guy calls himself Coren Vesparian who's summoned the PCs to Bonadan with "urgent business".

If you have a character planned out, or when you get one, please post a copy of the sheet on Mythweavers and send me (and eventually post) a link to it (going to create a seperate thread for character stuff). If you have a concept in mind but aren't familiar with SAGA, let me know and I'll help you work out the numbers. If there's interest, I'll run a bit of "Saga 101" for those folks as well.

Again, sorry for the delay. More very soon!

Introduction

It has only been a couple days since you had first met the masked man. Human by the looks of him, but given the size of the filter mask you couldn't quite tell. He said he was a mercenary recruiter looking for a specialist team to handle important matters for a major client. You might have just been desperate for credits, you might have been intrigued by the mystery, or you could just want the chance to shoot something. Whatever the reason, you find yourself on a ship headed for Bonadan, a heavily industrialized planet in the Coporate Sector. Your passage was apparently paid for by the masked man, who's given you instructions to meet him in a cantina called the Purple Nerf tomorrow evening. He even said he had made arrangments for you not to be harassed by the Espos, which is quite an accomplishment given their usual aggressiveness. You're not sure what he wants, but with the lengths he's gone to, it must be important.

Instructions

* Step 0: Subscribe to the Competitiob . This will indicate a commitment to coming on the 10th. I will take the first 6 folks for active gaming, though folks are still encouraged to subscribe as a waitlist may be necessary and if theres enough folks, I'll look into planning a second session in the near future.

*Step 1: Make a Star Wars SAGA character at 3rd level.

- Class/Level: 3rd level, any class. Newer folks (and in general everyone) are encouraged to use non-Force using classes. Not going to prohibit F/U, but it's...icky.

- Stats: 25 Point Buy per the SAGA character generation rules

- Gear: Not imposing a strict credit max, but be reasonable.

- HP: Half Hit Die + 1 Beyond first level.

-Character options (race, feats, talents, etc.) : Anything from a WOTC published source.

Folks that are new to SAGA and/or don't have the books (hint, PDFs of them were made...) are encouraged to e-mail me (ArdenKarn@gmail.com) with a concept and I'll put them into numbers for you.

*Step 1A: Put the character sheet info into a sheet at Mythweavers.com

*Step 2: Place a link to the Mythweavers sheet and a background synopsis in (this thread). Please don't put anything else in this thread

*Step 3: Register on Roll20.net and check out the VTT. Roll20 has some good tutorial stuff on their site and I'll be walking folks through the VTT at the planning session.

*Step 4: Show Up on the 10th and have a good time!

http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=751554

Dav Kardon of Dantooine grew up absorbing everything he could about the Sector Rangers, and it was his hope to join them one day, but that dream never came to be when his application to join was declined. After that happened, he decided to take his blaster and become the next best thing - a bounty hunter. Or he would have, had he actually been able to do more than pick up a couple of very small-time bounties on-planet. The only reason he's still breathing is a not-insignificant helping of luck, plus the fact that he's actually not too bad at getting people to talk to him. The fact that he's almost as good with his blaster pistol as he thinks he is helps, too.

Forgot to put the HP past first level rule up there so, now it's up there .

Good day folks. Now that I'm past my Con (that was last weekend), I can look towards getting another session of this going. The date I'm looking at is 1/31 (or 2/1 for the Ozfolk) . I was hoping for a Saturday, but I'm working on saturday afternoon/evening for the forseeable future. However, since I'm off the whole day, I'm more flexible on the time. Thus, please indicate if you could make it at the following times:

3 PM EST (8 PM GMT, 1 PM PST, 7 AM Australia)
6 PM EST (11 PM GMT, 3 PM PST, 10 AM Austraila)
8 PM EST (1 AM GMT, 5 PM PST, Noon Australia)

Thanks and hopefully this can be a fuller experience